Reporter, WA Today

Perth observed a mean daily maximum temperature of 25.7 degrees in 2012, which was the equal hottest year in 116 years of records with 2011.

Of the five hottest years in Perth on record, just one was prior to the past four years; 2012, 2011 (25.7 degrees) 2010 (25.3 degrees) 1978 (25.2 degrees) and 2009 (25.0 degrees).

During 2012, eight individual months ranked in the top 10 hottest for their respective month for the city.

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Perth recorded seven hot spells, where there was three consecutive days or more with a daily maximum temperature of 35 degrees or higher, the second highest number recorded in any one year behind nine in 1978.

The two hot spells in March this year were of note since March had seen two hot spells on only one other occasion, in 1988, since records began in 1897.

Between December 25 and 31, 2012, Perth recorded seven consecutive days with the maximum temperature of 37 degrees or higher.

This equalled the record set twice before; the first time in 1962 and the second in 1988.

Perth warmed up earlier than usual and recorded a warmer than normal day on the first day of October in 2012, with a maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees.

This was the earliest instance of a temperature at 34 degrees or higher in spring since records commenced in 1897, with the previous earliest date being 12 October when a maximum of 34.1 degrees was recorded in 1968.

Last year was also the 12th driest year for the city.

Perth recorded 608.2 millimetres of rain in 2012, which was far below the long-term average of 850 millimetres.